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Thursday, November 11, 2010

Who?...What?...Why?...For The Somerville Political Scene.

Recent fundraisers/fundraiser announcements have prompted speculation that two members of the Board of Alderman are thinking about running for Mayor. As other news providers have begun giving this topic some attention, I thought I would jump in and give my awesome readers a chance to lay out their thoughts on what the Somerville political landscape will look like a year from now. Please know that you can go beyond Ward 5 if you wish. So, what do you think? Who is running? Who should run? Why? What do you think their chances are?

Comment or email answers to the following questions (you may remain anonymous):Who is running?What are they running for?Why do you think they are running?What are their chances? Challenges? Strengths? Weaknesses?

Gewirtz is VP of the BOA right now and is poised to become President of the BOA in 2011. If she does, she will be interim Mayor if/when Joe takes a position with the Deval administration which is what he has been working towards the past couple of years. Heuston is going to try to get the President of the BOA position, too, I think. We'll see if she makes the move.

Sean is thinking about running, as is Roche, neither of whom I think can win a city wide election.

What Sean did on Craigie Street could come back and bit him in the behind if he runs city wide. Besides, I don't think he has the ability to cross the bridges with Old and New Somerville.

Unless Roche has someone running his entire campaign for him, he will not be able to win a citywide election, even with his $125/head fundraisers at the City Club.

I don't know who should run. I'd be interested to hear others' thoughts.

And I agree with a previous poster, you should run for alderman if Sean runs!!!

I read and heard (from other sources) the same re: Gewirtz and Heuston. In terms of those currently serving on the BOA, I don't think anyone else will run for President. I don't think anyone else on the BOA can/would run for president.

To my earlier comment about Sean, he does a lot of good for Ward 5. There is no doubt about that and I commend him for it. I am just unsure that he would be able to communicate that effectively to other constituents in the city. We will have to see how it unfolds.

Without a doubt, I think that the BOA is certainly ready for new blood.

I am no longer registered to vote in Somerville. But then again if a person is REALLY from Somerville such hurdles do keep us from the polls : )

I follow the Somerville scene from afar - in Cambridge.

I have always liked Sean. I have not seen him in a few years, but he was a great guy then and I am sure he is now. I do think that few things might come up, The Probate Fiasco, etc., and if so it won't look too good for him. I also don't think that he can go "city-wide"

Let us define the term "city-wide" in relation to Somerville politics. It is not as much about running across the seven wards as much as it is about the winning the approval of the two voter demographics x 7.

Let me clarify further. If a candidate wants to run city wide they have to win the Clarendon Hill Towers and the votes that are staring at their laptops over high priced cups of coffee in Davis Square. This is easier said than done.

Then, equally more important, if this candidate exists, can they master the new era GOTV efforts? Can they get out the vote in new and old school fashion? Vans to the polls, phones and diehards with roof racks + Facebook, the blogosphere/an effective virtual presence.

I don't think that Billy Roche can play both worlds effectively - especially from his side of McGrath. Politics like technology is evolving fast and the voter base in the Ville mirrors this trend.

If the candidate is unable to hang in this new political environment do they have the money to pay for it?

Let the city-wide candidates think about that stuff.

YOU, have these skills and can handle Ward 5. I don't know who is running from Porter, but whoever it is I don't think they can hang with you - unless they have $$$. If you're thinking of going for it - IF Sean pulls papers for mayor - you gotta start thinking about where the money is gonna come from and how to raise it now.

You'll have my vote, my family's votes and my help when you pull papers.

Curtatone either takes a position with Deval, or remains Mayor for now. 2012 will bring federal redistricting - and either the 8th CD will be abolished (and Capuano runs for the Senate) or Cap stay put. If he runs for the Senate, Curtatone may run for Congress, since he won't have to give up the Mayor's seat - if he doesn't have to run against Markey or Lynch.

Speaking of Capuano, rumors are that either (or both?) of his kids are looking at At Large or State Senate if Jehlen retires next term, or State Rep if Sciortino/Provost run for the Senate seat. One son is a lawyer and on the Planning Board (and has gotten good press lately from that) and the other has deep ties to Deval. Both would bring immediate name recognition and money to the table.

If Curtatone leaves for any reason, see a scrum between Heuston and O'Donovan for Mayor. Gewirtz may look at a run, but should rule it out, as Ward 6 is NOT representative of the entire constituency.

In that fight, Heuston wins hands down. O'Donovan is too wrapped up in Craigie Street, etc., which as a previous commenter mentioned, will come back to bite him - and will not present well citywide. Heuston is much better-spoken and presentable to a wider Som audience. Gewirtz, as mentioned, will have a hard time appealing to many wards outside of 6 (parts of 7and Brickbottom).

And THAT opens up ward races. Courtney - look at Ward 5, regardless of Sean's intentions. He can be beaten and you would be great. Look for the return of Marty Martinez, who I believe has moved into Union Square.

Anonymous - I am pretty sure Roche was appointed Acting Mayor to serve out Capuano's term because he was the President of the BOA at the time. He didn't run when the seat was up.

I think it would be a hard leap from a ward alderman position in a low-voting ward to Mayor. Fundraising will be hard for him, too.

Curtatone, Capuano and Brune were At Large before being elected Mayor. Gay had just come off of a major statewide ticket in a close race.

I have heard a number of rumors for Capuano Jr. - from At Large to challenging Curtatone to running for an open 8th CD. He was out front on a number of recent Planning Board issues (including Max Pac and Job Lots) and was a surrogate for Senate Candidate Cap at a ton of events in Somerville and the 8th.

Courtney:I have been reading this article since you posted it. This conversation changes every week and all other Somerville news sources have followed suite. Good job!

Two things: 1.)The landscape is going to change DRAMATICALLY!! The News is reporting that Trane may not run. Pero announced he's not running. And White, supposedly, is selling his house, but means nothing until words come out of his mouth. That's could=more changes in 2011 than the past few years combined.

2.)I know everyone says this,but you should consider a run for something. Maybe school committee in 2013?

Also, have you considered a SCAT show for your website or going on pundit and;or greater somerville and doing some political speculating with Joe and Kyanne?

I see cap jr. getting a seat over jack and fitz being beat by the other 3. Desmond has put himself back in the headlines with his image with his local/union hiring support against KSS and at assembly row.

Also hoping campano runs against gewirtz again. That as fun reading ha ha!

I don't agree that all 4 get re-elected. People are frustrated with the Mayor, frustrated with politicians in general. Plus most of the At Largers haven't particularly distinguished themselves.

Sure, Sullivan and White are still popular, but Connolly isn't and neither is Desmond. Desmond might now be getting on the anti-KSS bandwagon, but as Courtney tweeted not so long ago, Cap jr. was the only vote against the developer after the labor issues came to light. Not many people remember Fitz, I fear and he has not done much to distinguish himself.

Louis Morales tried to run a few years ago, but his voting record and PDS connection cost him the race. Mike Jr has the best chance out of him and Fitzgerald because of his approach on the planning board. Oh ya, and his name.

Fitzgerald is going to have a tough time shaking the Dorothy Kelly skeleton in his closet.

PDSers are pushing Bremer to run for an at/large position rather than against Taylor for ward 3 because Tom backs Rebekah on the BOA and god only knows she needs all the help she can get.

Tony Lafuente has it won in 4. Christine is not known and Rafal will go for reelection of her school committee seat.

White was directly quoted that he's running again so I don't believe the Snewz on that one.

Never heard of the other 2 in ward 4 so I don't think they're a threat. Where is this Christine person? I haven't seen her anywhere. La Fuente has been around the fundraiser scene and has had 1 of his own.

Article in today's Journal about possible candidates. Lots of the same names we've heard here. Quick summary of the article:

1: No challengers to Roche.2: No challengers to Heuston3: Bremer may challenge Taylor4: LaFuente and Barber are in. Vaughn Goodwin considering.5: No challengers to O'Donovan, Lynch out6: No challengers to Gewirtz7: Ballantine and Puglia are in versus Trane, Capuano and Fitzgerald out versus Trane. Rossetti considering.

CoronaVirus Pandemic Update

Today, the City of Somerville and the Somerville Public Schools announced that effective Monday, March 16, all City buildings will be closed to the public and all Somerville Public Schools will be closed for a minimum of two weeks to help minimize the spread of COVID-19. During this time we will reassess if the closure needs to continue beyond two weeks.

Services essential to public health and safety – like police and fire responses, trash collection, and the 311 call center – will continue as normal while City offices are closed. This closure includes the Somerville Public Libraries and Department of Parks and Recreation facilities and activities. If you have questions about a specific service or official meeting schedules such as City Council, Boards, and Commissions, please call 311 or 617-666-3311. All City and School sponsored events are canceled during this period.